On Thursday, BookMyShow lodged a FIR against an unidentified individual for illegally selling tickets for Coldplay’s concerts in the black market. Sections 66 (C) of the Information Technology Act and pertinent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act were cited in the case registration. As per reports from news agency РТІ, BookMyShow revealed that they were considering the possible cancellation of tickets being sold in an “unethical” manner.
BookMyShow has filed an official FIR on October 2, 2024, in its continuing battle against ticket scalping and the illegal sale of Coldplay s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 tickets in India, as stated by the ticket aggregator.
This step was taken after we proactively submitted our first complaint to the Mumbai Police on September 23, 2024, addressing these issues well in advance of any formal complaint being made against us. BookMyShow has lodged a complaint with the Mumbai police, requesting an investigation into the illegal resale of tickets by both individuals and platforms, according to PTI.
BookMyShow claimed in its complaint that it had received emails from two individuals asking to purchase the maximum number of tickets. The individual who sent the email also stated that they had promised to obtain tickets for certain individuals and had received payment from them as well. BookMyShow also stated that it received multiple WhatsApp messages from others with the same requests. Nevertheless, they were dismissed.
It was also mentioned that on September 22, when ticket sales started, it was advised not to buy Coldplay tickets from any third-party sources. It stated that it has disclosed information about every reseller they have noticed, including individuals selling tickets on social media.
“We will continue to closely monitor the reselling of tickets for this tour on the black market and share all necessary information with the authorities to ensure proper action is taken,” the statement said.
The Coldplay concert is set to take place at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai in January 2025. Yet, the much-awaited event has been overshadowed by worries of ticket fraud as countless fans rushed to secure a small amount of tickets and took to social platforms to express their frustration.
The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) launched an investigation after some of the tickets were resold on the black market for a significantly higher cost. The band will perform at three concerts on January 18, 19, and 21 next year as part of their “Music of the Spheres World Tour 2025”.
Earlier this week, Mumbai Police took a statement from Anil Makhija, the chief operating officer of BookMyShow, regarding a complaint. The company confirmed that Coldplay’s shows in India will carry on as scheduled. “It stated that any reports contradicting this are factually inaccurate.”